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Casting A Stone
Harjap Singh Aujla 

Laying of foundation stones everyday has become an unnoticed pastime of the publicity hungry Punjab politicians. Every year hundreds of foundation stones are laid in rural and urban areas of the state. On some of the projects, actual work does not take place at all. At some other places, the work starts at some of the projects, but it is seldom pursued to completion. Very rarely the widely publicized projects are finished within the five year long term of the incumbent government. After five years, when the new government takes office, the works left unfinished by the previous government are rarely pursued up to completion stage. There are several instances of the actual removal of some foundation stones, when the new government takes office. Some of the foundation stones are vandalized by anti-social elements and/or damaged by their political opponents. 

During the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, hardly any foundation stone was ever laid. There are some instances of stone markings inlayed after completion of a particular “Sewa Project” at the historic gurdwaras. The British Rulers seldom laid foundation stones at small projects. They installed such stones at really gigantic projects likes those of new schools, colleges, hospitals and office complexes. Even after attaining independence from the British Rule, the foundation stones of ordinary projects were rarely laid by the politicians or bureaucrats. 

In the State of Punjab since nineteen seventies, the fad of laying foundation stones has been on the increase. The practice of laying foundation stones has gone so much into our psyche that even before undertaking patch repair of roads, or for repairing a broken down sewer pipe, the foundation stones are laid. 

No one would mind the laying of foundation stones, if the real cost of laying the foundation stones is an insignificantly small amount. But in real terms, laying of these foundation stones cost a fortune. The chief minister and his extended family are covered by highest Z + security cover. More than 1050 members of the security forces are guarding this important family. Where ever the chief minister goes, at least fifty vehicles accompany him. When his son and the heir apparent venture out on tour, the entourage is even larger and grander. Among those accompanying such big wigs are no ordinary constables. They include deputy commissioners of the concerned districts, the senior superintendents of police and a host of IAS, PCS, IPS and PPS officers. These are highly paid officials. Their one day’s salary bill runs into lakhs of rupees. In addition the cost of petrol runs into thousands of rupees. Many times this cumulative cost of the high profile entourages, exceeds the cost of the original project. No advanced industrial country permits such blatant wastage of government’s hard earned revenue. 

In America no one lays the foundation stones for small projects. An information board is installed at each construction site. It displays the federal share of the cost, the state’s share and the names of top officials, on who’s behalf the work is undertaken. After completion of the project, the informatory boards are also withdrawn and their material is recycled for other projects.  

Now since the state of Punjab is passing through very difficult financial situation, it is imperative on the part of our leaders to do away with the wasteful custom of laying the foundation stones, even for trivial projects. By doing away with this practice, we can save crores of rupees of tax payer’s money each year. This is being painfully pointed out, because the truth must be told.

30 September 2009
 

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